Guardians of the Gulf follows US Coast Guard in the city of Mobile, Alabama, through its two hundred year history. The First Federal unit sent to Alabama following the states and mission to the Union in 1819 was the 52-foot Topsail schooner the United States Revenue cutter Alabama its eight crew members. For decades the small sailing vessel and its replacement with the federal government's only representatives in the area. These Cutters engaged in law enforcement capturing Pirates and slave Traders, Revenue collection ensuring collection of customs taxes, Nations Health prevention yellow fever entry, and seemed to the safety of mariners at sea. As the port of mobile grew so did the coast guard's presence. Mobile and Baldwin's counties are now home to over 600,000 citizens with its Port now one of the 10 busiest in the country. More than 1,000 active-duty men and women along with 500 retired Coast Guard families live and work in the area. The history leading to the three current major Coast Guard commands in Mobile sector mobile, Aviation Training Center Mobile and Gulf Strike Team are reviewed. Guardians of the gulf trace major events occurring at these commands through first-person accounts and many citations. This 330-page book contains over 100 photographs along with descriptions of every operational cutter, tender, and aircraft ever assigned. For every Coast Guardsmen, family member, those whose lives were touched by the US Coast Guard in the Southern Alabama & Gulf Coast region, and devotees to Alabama history, Guardians of the gulf is a must in your library. This book is available at both Coast Guard exchanges in Mobile, AL and at the battleship Alabama Memorial Park store.